Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Biden filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio interview, arguing the release would be improper. The action has sparked political commentary, including remarks from former President Trump.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Top Sports Lawyers Command $10 Million Salaries Amid Poaching Frenzy
Top sports lawyers are commanding compensation packages that exceed $10 million annually as elite law firms scramble to poach talent. Firms such as Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Davis Polk and Simpson Thacher have hired marquee attorneys who brought book‑of‑business from high‑profile deals like the Portland Trail Blazers sale and the $4.65 billion Broncos transaction. The surge reflects sports’ evolution into a multi‑billion‑dollar asset class, with private‑equity firms now active in every major league. Consequently, law‑firm compensation structures are inflating to secure the few lawyers who can navigate complex league politics and massive transactions.
Readily Ascertainable - WilmerHale's Trade Secret Bulletin: January and February 2026
The Federal Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Seventh Circuit, and district courts issued several 2026 decisions clarifying trade‑secret law. Courts emphasized that plaintiffs must precisely define alleged secrets, apportion damages to each proven secret, and provide technical details rather than functional descriptions....
Defense-Focused Biglaw Moves Into Plaintiff-Side Work
Biglaw firms traditionally known for defending corporate clients are increasingly taking on plaintiff‑side litigation. The shift accelerated after 2020, with firms like Kirkland & Ellis reporting more than $2 billion in plaintiff recoveries by 2022. Legal‑finance providers such as Burford Capital...
Maryland Settles with Owner and Operator of Ship that Crashed Into Baltimore's Key Bridge
Maryland announced a settlement with Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, the owner and operator of the M/V Dali that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. The agreement resolves a portion of the state’s claims,...
Kroger Sued for False Advertising
Animal Outlook sued Kroger and its Ralphs subsidiary in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that signage labeling meat as “well raised” and “no antibiotics” misleads consumers. The complaint cites products from major brands such as Hormel, Tyson and Oscar...
EU Publishes Implementing Act for Remote EUDI Wallet Onboarding
On Tuesday, the European Commission released an Implementing Act that sets reference standards for remote onboarding of European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallets. The act mandates a high assurance level, combining electronic identification with additional procedures, and aligns with ETSI TS 119 461...
NY Tax Talk: Calculating Tiered Partnership Income
The New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal issued a landmark ruling on how to calculate the Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) for tiered partnerships. The tribunal requires that NYC‑source income be traced through each partnership layer to the ultimate partners, rather than...
For Kenyan Stablecoin Issuers, Reserves Must Be Kept Close to Home
Kenya’s draft Virtual Asset Service Provider regulations require stablecoin issuers to hold 30% of reserves in segregated accounts at local commercial banks and the remaining 70% in cash or short‑term government securities. Issuers must maintain at least KES 500 million (≈$3.85 million) in...
Arkansas Petitions To Reinstate Restrictions On Social Media Algorithms
Arkansas has asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a preliminary injunction that blocked a state law prohibiting social‑media platforms from using algorithms or design features that could lead users to suicide, drug use, eating disorders, or addiction....
FCC Proposes Sweeping Rules on Foreign Call Centers: Onshoring Mandates, Consumer Protections and Robocall Deterrence
On March 27, 2026 the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking targeting foreign call centers. The package proposes a 30% cap on calls handled abroad, English‑proficiency testing, mandatory disclosures, and a right for consumers to be transferred to U.S....
Comparison Shopping Is Not a (Computer) Crime
Amazon has sued AI startup Perplexity, alleging its Comet browser violates the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by automating access to Amazon’s site for price‑comparison purchases. A federal district court accepted Amazon’s claim, leaning on the older Facebook v. Power...
McKinsey to Contribute $125 Million to Purdue Bankruptcy over Opioid Sales Advice
McKinsey & Co has agreed to contribute $125 million to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement, ending potential lawsuits over the consulting firm’s advice to aggressively market OxyContin. The payment is part of Purdue’s broader $7.4 billion restructuring plan approved in November, which aims...
Increasingly Complex Cases Contribute to Disruption at NL Provincial Court, Working Group Finds
The Provincial Court Working Group in Newfoundland and Labrador found that rising case complexity, expanding workloads and chronic staff shortages have disrupted court operations. The group delivered its findings and a set of recommendations to Justice Minister Helen Conway Ottenheimer, calling...
BC’s Health Professions and Occupations Act, Now in Effect, Boosts Transparency on Prior Discipline
The British Columbia Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) became law on April 1, 2026, overhauling the province’s health‑care regulatory framework. It requires all disciplinary actions and summary protection orders to appear on public registries, boosting transparency for patients and employers....
Liquid Sugar in My Maple Syrup?
A Quebec court has filed a lawsuit alleging that some maple syrup producers are diluting their product with liquid sugar. The complaint, highlighted by a CBC report, claims the adulteration violates Canadian food standards and misleads consumers. Industry stakeholders are...
Space and Satellite Futures: Randy Segal Is at the Table When Space Law Gets Written. Now the Cohort Gets a...
In this 42‑minute episode of Orbited, veteran space‑law partner Randy Siegel discusses how she navigates the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape for commercial space ventures, from satellite contracts to commercial space stations and mega‑constellations. She explains the challenges of...
Global Policies Governing Earth Observation Applications
Global earth‑observation (EO) policies are diverging as the United States clings to a Cold‑War‑era licensing regime, while the EU’s Copernicus programme champions free, open‑access data. China’s data‑sovereignty laws tightly control geospatial exports, and India’s 2023 space policy opens the market...
Salt N Pepa Termination Rights Ruling Makes Creator Protections in US “Illusory”, Say Artist Advocacy Groups
Salt N Pepa’s lawsuit against Universal Music over 1980s recordings has become a pivotal test of the U.S. copyright termination right. The Second Circuit Appeals Court received amicus briefs from the National Society of Entertainment & Arts Lawyers and a coalition of...
Banks Poised to Tap $323B Stablecoin Market, $6T Deposits
The FDIC approved new stablecoin rules earlier this week, clearing the way for Wall Street banks to enter a $323 billion market under the GENIUS Act’s new federal framework. “If they make that legal, we will go into that business,”...
Australia’s AML Reforms: Strategies for Success in 2026
Australia’s anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing reforms will take effect in early 2026, prompting regulators and industry leaders to adopt a risk‑focused, outcomes‑based approach. AUSTRAC’s chief executive signaled a move away from tick‑box compliance toward substantive risk management, encouraging firms...
The Birthright Citizenship Question that Stumped the Solicitor General
During the Supreme Court’s oral argument in Trump v. Barbara, Justice Kavanaugh pressed the Solicitor General on whether Congress could reshape birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. The SG replied that Congress has an inherent power to grant citizenship, then...
UMB Sues Public Finance Authority, Addiction Center Manager After 'Collapse'
Bond trustee UMB Bank NA has filed a lawsuit in Indiana seeking a court‑appointed receiver for two addiction‑treatment centers financed with $117 million of tax‑exempt municipal bonds. The suit targets Wisconsin’s Public Finance Authority (PFA) and three healthcare managers, alleging financial...
There Are ‘Credible Legal Questions as to Whether FDA Has the Legal Authority to Eliminate Self-GRAS,’ Say Legal Experts
The FDA is preparing a proposed rule that would require mandatory submission of GRAS notices, effectively ending the self‑affirmed GRAS pathway that currently allows companies to certify safety without FDA review. The rule, pending OMB approval, would create a public...
RBI Proposes New Measures to Combat Rising Digital Payment Frauds
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a discussion paper proposing several safeguards to curb the surge in digital payment frauds. Key measures include a one‑hour delay on account‑to‑account transfers above ₹10,000, a trusted‑person authentication for vulnerable users on...
Canada Considers Easing Work Authorisation for International Students
Canada’s immigration department is proposing to let international students and recent graduates work without a separate work permit while they await study‑permit extensions or post‑graduate work‑permit (PGWP) decisions. The plan also removes the co‑op work‑permit requirement for eligible apprentices and...
Introducing the Sandbox Environment: Safely Test and Optimize E-Signature Workflows
Zoho Sign has launched a sandbox environment that mirrors a live portal, letting users test e‑signature workflows without affecting production. The isolated space supports template tweaks, API and SDK experiments, and integration trials while preserving live credits. Early error detection...
Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Misuse of Facial Recognition by Reno Police
A Nevada lawsuit claims the Reno Police Department arrested Jason Killinger after a casino’s facial‑recognition system falsely matched him to a banned patron. The arrest was made without corroborating evidence, despite Killinger presenting valid IDs, and the officer later admitted...
TRAI Floats Satellite Spectrum Framework, Seeks Industry Views on Direct-to-Mobile Services
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper proposing a Satellite Communication Network framework that would permit Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) satellite services using either Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) or International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum. The initiative aims to...
FDA’s 2026 General Wellness Policy and What It Means for Manufacturers of Wearable Devices
The FDA finalized its General Wellness Policy for low‑risk devices on Jan. 6, 2026, setting clear criteria that wearable products can avoid medical‑device regulation if they are limited to general‑wellness purposes and pose low safety risk. The guidance follows a July 2025 warning...
Hansika Motwani Files Rs 2 Crores Defamation Suit Against Sister-in-Law Muskan Nancy James Amid Legal Battle
Indian actress Hansika Motwani has filed a ₹2 crore (~$241,000) defamation suit against her estranged sister‑in‑law Muskan Nancy James in a Mumbai sessions court. The complaint, lodged through lawyer Adnan Shaikh, demands monetary damages, a public apology and a court order...
Social Media Ban for Children: AP to Work Regulatory Framework
Education Minister Nara Lokesh ordered a draft regulatory framework to bar children under 13 from social media in Andhra Pradesh. The proposal includes secure age‑verification using DigiLocker “age tokens” and seeks collaboration with platforms such as Meta, Google, Snapchat and...
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Arizona's Criminal Charge Strategy May Invite Federal Regulators
“As it stands, by filing criminal charges against Kalshi, Arizona may have found an effective way to keep these cases in state court, even if that strategy increases the odds of federal regulators intervening.” https://t.co/o4iJw3CQpc
Spain Approves Expanded Parental Leave and Child‑Care Benefits for Births After August 2024
The Spanish government announced on Tuesday that it will extend maternity, paternity and child‑care benefits to all children born from August 2024 onward. The reform, described as the most sweeping change to family policy in a decade, aims to boost...
Judge Dismisses Most of United Mechanics' Pay Lawsuit
United Mechanics Say Their Union Helped The Airline Short Them On Raises — Judge Tosses Most Of The Case - View from the Wing https://t.co/XCqUPo5GZF
NYC Continues FTC Push, Industry Blocks Negative Option Updates
Interesting to see NYC picking up where the @FTC left off. Advertising & media industry orgs like @iab and @NCTAitv fought hard to stop prevent updates to the Negative Option Rule.
Human Drug Compounding Policies and Rules
The FDA has released a series of guidance documents, interim policies, and Federal Register notices spanning 2014‑2025 that shape human drug compounding under sections 503A and 503B of the FD&C Act. Recent 2025 interim policies address bulk drug substance use for both...
AI Revolutionizes Legal Practice: Key Findings Unveiled
1/ Very interesting paper about the use of #AI in the #legal sector, by @Dschwarcz et al.👇
IManage Appoints Jon Janes as Global Corporate Market Leader
iManage announced Jon Janes as its Global Corporate Market Leader, tasked with driving worldwide growth of the corporate segment and expanding adoption of iManage Cloud solutions. Janes brings over 15 years of legal‑technology sales experience, including senior roles at Thomson...
Zeidler Group Adds Taiwan to Its RegTech Compliance Tool
Zeidler Group, a law‑firm‑backed RegTech provider, has expanded its Marketing Material Review Tool (MMR‑Tool) to cover Taiwan’s securities regulations, including the SITCA Act and related advertising guidelines. The update lets global asset managers automatically vet marketing content against Taiwan’s fair‑presentation...
TRAI Proposes Voice‑Only Packs to Slash Mobile Recharge Costs in India
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper calling for mandatory voice‑only recharge packs with monthly to yearly validity, aiming to lower the cost of calling for millions of users. The regulator will collect stakeholder feedback...
Dozens of U.S. Cities Pull Flock Safety License‑Plate Cameras After Privacy Outcry
More than 30 U.S. cities have terminated contracts with Flock Safety, removing its AI‑powered license‑plate readers after public pressure over privacy and data‑sharing with ICE. The wave of cancellations, which began in early 2026, underscores growing scrutiny of municipal surveillance...
Federal Appeals Courts Uphold Pentagon's Blacklist of Anthropic, Escalating AI‑Security Clash
Two federal appellate panels rejected Anthropic's request for a stay, allowing the Department of Defense to keep the AI lab on a supply‑chain risk list. The split rulings—one in Washington, D.C., the other in San Francisco—highlight a growing legal battle...
READ THE DOCUMENT: Jay-Z's Sexual Assault Extortion Lawsuit Sent to New York
Jay‑Z’s extortion lawsuit, alleging a false sexual‑assault claim by an unnamed accuser and attorney Tony Buzbee, has been moved from Alabama to the Southern District of New York. The federal judge’s order places the case back in Manhattan, the same...
Wells Fargo Warns Savers: $17 B Annual Cost From Non‑fiduciary Advice
Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division released a report warning that non‑fiduciary advice is draining $17 billion from American retirement accounts each year. The analysis finds $1.7 trillion in IRA assets exposed to the "suitability" standard, which can shave as much...
Oklahoma Judge Rejects Settlements in Ongoing Poultry Waste Case
A federal judge in Oklahoma dismissed a $31 million settlement reached by Tyson Foods, Cargill, George’s and Peterson Farms over phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. The companies had agreed to fund remediation after a 2025 judgment held them liable...
Bissett Bullet: What Is the Return on Their Investment?
The Bissett Bullet highlights that most business owners view compliance work as a necessary evil, choosing accountants primarily on price. It urges accountants to quantify the monetary value of time saved for clients and present that as a return on...
Landmark Federal Indictment for Pop Peptides Alleged ‘Scheme’ Even as RFK Jr. May Soon Un-Ban Some
A federal grand jury indicted Dr. Justin Watkins, owner of Utah's TruHealth Clinic, for relabeling Chinese‑manufactured peptides and selling them to more than 200 patients without disclosing the source or FDA status. The indictment alleges that the clinic repackaged the...
Proposed Restitution Law in France Advances in National Assembly
The French National Assembly’s Cultural Affairs Committee approved a restitution bill that the Senate’s counterpart cleared in January, setting a plenary debate for April 13. The draft empowers the Minister of Culture to order the return of African artifacts by decree,...
Most Europeans Want Minors Off Social Media
A new POLITICO European Pulse survey of 6,698 adults across six EU nations finds that three‑quarters of Europeans support government‑mandated minimum ages for social media. Half of respondents favor age 16, another quarter prefer 13‑15. Italy and Poland show the...